Convertible railway-car.



' Patented Sent. I6, |902. E. S. BUCKNAM. `CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY CAR.

(A pplication filed Dec. 16, 1901.)

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CONVERTIBLE RAILWAY CAB.

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Patented Sept. I6, |902. E. S. BUCKNAM.

CONVERTIBLE BILWAY CAB.

(Application tiled Dec. 16, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES `ATENT OEEICE.

EZRA SANGER BUOKNAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN A. BRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLERAILWAY-CAR.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,075, dated September 16, 190%?.

Application iiled December 1 To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be tknown that LEZEA SANGRE BUCKNAM, a citizen of thenUnited States, and a resident of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, (whose post-office address is care of the J. G. Brilll Company, of the same place,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to means for expeditiously and economically converting an `open car (more especially of the street or sur# face type) into a closed car, or, vice versa, converting a previously-open car which has `been converted into a closed car again into an open car; and my invention has more special reference to providing cars not originally constructed as convertible cars with means for readily converting them into open or closed type.

My invention resides in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an open car having one of its side openings open and another adjacent side Opening converted or closed. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line x m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line @fg/,Fig 1. y Fig. 4 is a transverse sec- Fig. l is a like View on the line 5 5, Fig..1. .Fig..6 is a front view of the window sash or framing, with the detachable securing-strips shown detached and at the sides of the sash or frame. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the lower panel-slats detached from each other, and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the sheet-metal lining or covering for the lower panel broken in the center to save room in illustrating.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several 6.1901. serial No. 86,019. (No model.)

are readily applicable to most forms of cars in which grooved posts or stanchions are employed extending between the car-sill and the roof, which posts or stanchions delimit the longitudinal extent of each of the side openings ofth'e car, said openings vertically beingdelined by the roof and sill. My improvements alsoin part may be applied to a car having side openings between the posts and below the roof and a lower pane, either fixed or movable, extending down to lthe sill or flooring.

In view of the foregoing I do not limit myself to the precise construction of cars in which my improvements may be embodied.

The car illustrated herein has a roof-section 1,comprising theusualmembers--viztheroof 2, head-lining 3, rafter 4--all hereinafter ge nerically termed the roof or roof-section, and the outside longitudinal letter-board 5, the outer longitudinal side sills 6, (it being understood that both sides of the car are constructed id`entical,) the posts or stanchions 7, extending between the roof and to the sills, along the upper ends of which the letter-board extends, the car-flooring 8, the transverse seats 9, extending between the posts, the pivoted seat-back 10, adapted to be'used in the conventional manner, the cross stay-pieces 11 between the posts below the seats, the seat foot-rails 12, and the metal seat panels or ends 13, lying on the exterior of the posts, the panels being inset into the posts, so as to leavea portion of theoutside of its vertical face `projecting over and beyond the seatpanels, as at 14, Fig. 2. All of these parts are of conventional or otherwise desired construction. The posts are provided on their lateral Vand opposingfaces with grooves 15, which` may extend up beyond the lower edge of the letter-board and into a pocket or recess 16, provided for the reception of a curtain, to be described, and these grooves are continued down to the sills along the outer face of the seat-panels by means of the grooved ribs 17 to the closed end 18 of the groove. The groove 15 may be provided at a point above the seatpanel with a turnout 15, extending outwardly, as shown, or inwardly. As these grooves are merely for the purpose of detach- IOO ably securing the panel and sash, hereinafter described, in place, they may be formed as desired. At 19 is the Window-sash, of any desired construction, preferably comprising the rigid side, top, and bottom members 2O 21 22 and the Aglass 23, the lower cross-pieces 22 being preferably formed as a panel of some depth to give a permanently closed eifect to the car side above the seat-line, the top crosspiece being recessed at 24. At 25, Fig. 7, is the lower panel, hereinafter to be described.

The sash 19 is secured in place by providing strips 26,preferably made of wood,adapted to be secured by the screws passed through holes 27 to theinner faces of the vertical members 2O of the sash and to the sides of the section 22 and to be inserted edgewise into the groovesin the posts in the manner hereinafter described, as indicated in Fig. 4, the order of the steps being immaterial. The strips 26 are preferably shorter than the sash, as indicated in Fig. 6, and their lower edges are inclined at 28, for a purpose hereinafter described. The lower panel comprises a series of wooden or other strips 29, backed by an outer flexible plate 30, of metal, ber, or other material, the strips being provided with grooves 31 and tongues 32 and superposed upon each other, so as to form an articulated or flexible backing, to which the plate 30 may be secu red-say by the top strip 29a-the bottom strip 29b resting on the bottom of the groove 15 in the rib 17. This construction enables a car previously constructed without particular reference to means for converting it into an open or closed car to be expeditiously converted into either an open or closed car and to bear when converted into the closed form a strong andsubstantial resemblance to a car previously constructed as a closed car or to be as readily converted into an open car again and preserving its original character of an open car. The grooves 15 receive a guiding or cross bar 33, attached to the free end of a curtain 34, of any desired construction, the upper end ot' the curtain being secured to the roller 35, mounted in bearings in the pocket 16. The grooves 15 are ordinarily carried down to the sill through the medium of the grooves formed in the ribs 17, produced upon the exterior of the seat-panel. l therefore avail myself of these grooves for the purpose of detachably securing the window sash or frame in place, and so faras this part ofmy invention is concerned it is not necessary that the grooves continue down below the seat-panel. In fact, the grooves 15 in the posts can terminate at any desired distance above the sills or tlooring, for the reason that this part of my invention can be employedin what is called semiconvertible cars,where there is a fixed panel extending from the flooring to and above the seat-levels. Y

As illustrating the manner of employing my invention in its various phases and considering that the window frame or sash is to be applied to a semiconvertible car having a lower Iixed panel, such as 25, and openings between the same and the letter-board or roof and between the posts, adapted to be temporai-ily closed, as by the curtain 34E, it will only be necessary to place the window-sash 19 between the posts, closely fitting the sides of the sash against the sides of the posts, as indicated in Fig. 4, and simultaneously or previously inserting the edging-strips 26 in the grooves and securing both the frame and the strips together by screws 36, passing through the previouslyprepared apertures in the strips. It is immaterial whether the screws pass from the outside of the frame or inside ofthe strips. In placing the frame between the posts its upper end is passed underneath the lower edge 37 of the letter-board, so that the recess 24, formed in its upper cross-piece 21, will interlock with the lower edge or corner 37 of the letter-board, Fig. 3, thereby holding the frame or sash in position at the top. By making the lower section 22 of the window-frame simulate a panel I can dispense with the necessity of using fixed side paneling above the seat panels or ends,where free access to the posts in the grooves can be readily had, so that this part of my invention can be readily availed of for use in cars having fixed lower paneling of any desired height. Ofcourse the car can be originally constructed to cooperate with my improvements; but my invention in its several aspects has particular application to open cars of the usual type not so previously constructed. In employing the lower panel 25 and setting it within the grooves formed in the ribs of the seat-panels the flexible or articulated connection of the slats with each other and the iiexible nature of the sheet-metal or other covering permits it to be disposed in conformity with the curve of the seat end, it being customary to make the lower section of the car curved, as indicated, both the ends of the slats and the Iiexible sheet extending into the groove, so as to make a non-rattling and weather-tight'tit. The panel 25 is placed in position by inserting it as a unit or the slats separately and then the sheet 30 into the grooves 15 in the opposing posts. To do this, either the seatpanel or the rib 17 may be removed; but to avoid this I avail myself of the turnouts 15a, into which the lower panel as a unit or in pieces or sections may be inserted and moved down the grooves 15 to the end of the grooves, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In this wayI provide the grooves 15 with detachable elements, permitting of the insertion and removal of the lower panel 25. When the panel 25 is in place, the window sash or frame may be secured in place, as before described. In the specific construction illustrated herein the lower end of the sash 19 will overlap the upper edge of the lower panel, as at 38, Fig. 3. When in this position, the screws 39 are passed through previously-formed apertures 40 in the upper strip 29a and screwed home into the lower edge of the sash, as indicated IOC IIO

in Fig. 3, the lower edge 28 of the edgingstrips 26 resting upon the inclined surface 42 of the top strip and conforming to its contour,

\ making a good it, the `lower strip 29b being recessed at 43 tot over the edge of the sills to make a weather-tight joint. of making the edging-strips shorter than the window-frame is thus made apparent.

It is clear that theimprovements herein described can be variously employed and` embodied in structures differing from that illustrated herein without departing from the spirit of my invention. l

When the window-frame is not secured to the car side, the curtain may be employed to close the opening either from the roof to the lower panel or to the flooring when no lower panel is employed, and the lower panel as constructed herein may be permitted to remain a permanent part of the car.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In acar, the combination with the posts, groovesformed in the posts, of a window sash or frame, and means adapted to be detachably secured to the frame or sash and inserted into said grooves for detachably securing the sash or frame to the posts.

2. In a car, the combination with the side posts having grooves formed therein, of a sash adapted to t between said postsand strips carried by said sash fitting into said grooves to removably secure said sash between said posts.` J

3. In a car, the combination with the grooved side posts, of a sash fitting between said posts and detachably secured in position by extensions removably secured upon the vertical edges of said sash, adapted to fit into said grooved side posts.

4. In a car, the combination with the posts, grooves formed in said posts, of a window frame or sash, and separable strips adapted to be secured detachably tothe sash or frame and inserted in the grooves, substantially as described.

5. In a car, the combination with the posts, grooves `formed in said posts, of means for closing the openings between the posts comprising a window frame or sash; separable strips adapted to be detachably secured to the sash or frame and inserted in the grooves,

The purpose i and a panel adapted to be detachably secured in the car side below thesaid sash or frame.

6.v The combination in a car having posts or stanchions provided with opposing grooves, of a sash or frame, separable strips adapted to be inserted in said grooves and secured to the sides of the sash, and a lower panel secured to the car side, substantially as de.

scribed. H

7. In a car, the combination with the lower panel, the upright posts having groovesabove the panel, the window sash or frame, the stripsinserted in `the grooves and secured to the sash, said strips being adapted to rest upon the top of the `lower panel, the lower edge of the sash overlappingthe upper edge of the panel, the panel and sash being secured together at the overlapping point.

8. The combination with the grooved posts, the lowervpanel, the window-sash, the strips inserted in the grooves and resting on thel lower panel, and means for detachably se'-A curing the strips to the sash.

9. The combination in a car having grooved posts,of the lower panel, the window-sash having a recess at its upper cross member, a letter-board extending along the post below the roof, its lower edge being adapted to enter into the said recess, and means for detachably securing the Window-sash to the posts and the lower panel.

10. In a car, the combination of posts having grooves, of a lower panel comprising a plurality of longitudinally-disposed strips, an outer flexible covering supported in said grooves, and a window sash or frame detachably secured between theposts and to the upper strip of said lower panel.

ll. In a car, the combination with the posts having grooves, the seat-panel having eXterior grooved ribs, the grooves in the ribs alin-` ing with the grooves in the posts, a panel in said seat-panel grooves comprising a iexible sheet and a series of transverse strips sup-V ported in said grooves, and a window sash or frame detachably secured to the posts .and to the seat-panel. A

Signed at the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, this 9th day of December,.l90l. y

`Witnesses:

WM. SHAW, GEO. SHAW. 

